"Mad Man" presents a tantalizing overview of Stern's work as a photographer, confidently placing him among the greats in his field. But Stern as a person? Not so great.

He admits, for instance, that he cheated on the love of his life, ballerina Allegra Kent, and then makes matters worse by attempting to justify it with the claim that it made him crazy when she danced with other men onstage.

Which brings us to topless director Shannah Laumeister, who has been (and maybe still is?) Stern's lover. As frank as "Mad Man" is, it still feels creepy to know it was made by Laumeister, and the creepiness is compounded by the knowledge that they met when she was 13 and he was 53.

"Mad Man" is hazy about when their relationship became a thing, but the movie is at its creepy best (or worst) when it shows us Laumeister and Stern walking down a street, with her wearing a pair of red plastic sunglasses that practically dare us to associate her with the red plastic sunglasses-clad images he shot for "Lolita."

"BERT STERN: ORIGINAL MAD MAN"

Directed by: Shannah Laumeister

Rated: Not rated, but contains frank nudity and strong language

Should you go? Sure, but be prepared for a complex response to the lively, informative and icky documentary. Director and star will be at the Friday, May 3, evening screenings at Minneapolis' Lagoon Cinema. ***